Neon Genesis Evangelion and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann are two of the greatest anime ever made. One is a deeply disturbing delve into the human psyche, while the other is an uplifting exploration of humanity's unrestrained potential. One is an apocalyptic story of self-destruction, while the other is one of death and rebirth.
These two anime, made by Studio Gainax, serve as companion pieces to one another. Both feature young shy boys coming to confront obstacles larger than anything they could ever imagine, accompanied by a militarized organization and giant mecha. Which one is better?
Mecha Action
First, let's compare the two series as mecha anime. Neon Genesis Evangelion's Evangelion and Angels are less like traditional mecha, having more in common with kaiju like Godzilla or Gamera. Evangelion has some incredible action, with End of Evangelion's battle between Evangelion Unit-02 and the Mass-Produced Evangelions a stand-out.
However, Gurren Lagann has a huge advantage over Evangelion: its action scenes are untethered absurdity. Many of Evangelion's fight scenes are powerful in how relatively grounded and brutal they are, which, while great, isn't as insanely entertaining as the unrestrained madness of Gurren Lagann's fights. The fights in Gurren Lagann run on the "rule of cool." Robots grow drills out of nothing, throw their heads like weapons and absorb giant machines just by drilling into them. And that's just the first half. The final battle of Gurren Lagann features galaxies being thrown around like shuriken. The sheer unrestrained absurdity makes it immediately unforgettable. In this regard, Gurren Lagann emerges the victor.
Despite that, Evangelion's Angels and Evangelion Units have more memorable designs than Gurren Lagann's various mecha suits. The Angels take on increasingly bizarre forms, with many defying any concept of conventional anatomy. Likewise, the Evangelions, being unpredictable organic entities tethered to human will, continuously defy expectations in grotesque, nightmarish ways. Unit-01 goes berserk, eats an Angel, then liquefies her pilot into her womb. Shinji's Unit-01 is not cool like Simon's Gurren Lagann; Unit-01 is a Lovecraftian horror. While Gurren Lagann has superior action, Evangelion has superior mecha.
Characterization
Gurren Lagann has some incredible characters. Simon's arc throughout the series takes him from a painfully shy boy to the savior of humanity. Kamina remains one of the most beloved heroes in fiction, despite only appearing in eight episodes of the anime. Yoko not only is an immediately lovable character but also undergoes an unexpected arc leading into and after the time-skip. Even less beloved characters like Rossiu and Viral are compelling and fascinating figures.
However, while Gurren Lagann's cast of characters are memorable, they are mostly defined by their larger-than-life presences, which, while fun to watch, lacks the uncompromised realism of Evangelion's cast. Every character is depicted in an unflinching light, with all their character flaws being exposed in often painful examinations of their psyches. There are many people who genuinely hate the characters in Evangelion, especially Shinji. However, this sustained dislike is a merit in Evangelion's favor. While many people might wish Shinji took more of an active role in the plot, at no point is the audience confused why Shinji acts the way he does. Every character, even the doll-like Rei Ayanami, is a layered and nuanced figure.
Is it better to love your cast or feel uncomfortable knowing them too intimately? Audiences might prefer watching Gurren Lagann's cast, but Evangelion's cast is better realized.
Story
Both Evangelion and Gurren Lagann take several unexpected risks with their stories that ultimately pay off. Kamina appears to at first be the story's hero, only for him to die eight episodes in. The story reaches a climax after the defeat of Lordgenome, only to keep going, showing the growing pains of a new society before the arrival of a new threat that inverts everything we knew up until that point.
Gurren Lagann is a traditional epic, but Evangelion is an entirely unconventional story, with the latter half being broken up by long, drawn-out scenes of introspection. Evangelion's final two episodes buckle all traditions of storytelling entirely. Gurren Lagann, while it takes unexpected steps, still feels like a familiar story of heroism in the face of adversity. Evangelion, on the other hand, is a delve into self-destructive trauma and existential horror.
Ultimately, it comes down to this: Gurren Lagann's story ends on a satisfying if melancholic note, while Evangelion desperately makes you want to see more, if only because you want to see something good happen to its surviving characters. Other mecha anime like Rahxephon, Darling in the Franxx and even Gurren Lagann are inspired by Evangelion, but less pessimistic. Simon is who Shinji could have been with more confidence.
Gurren Lagann is great, but without Evangelion, there is no Gurren Lagann! Though both are masterpieces, Neon Genesis Evangelion is the superior mecha anime overall.